New vaping regulations welcomed amid rising youth usage in Wales

New figures show that nearly one in six Year 11 students in Wales (15.9 per cent) are regular vape users, with over 45 per cent having tried vaping, as concerns grow over nicotine use among young people.

Public Health Wales has expressed support for the UK Government’s new Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which introduces stricter regulations aimed at curbing youth vaping and tobacco use.

The data, collected by The School Health Research Network (SHRN) in late 2023, reveals that vaping among young people has risen notably.

Among students in Years 7 to 11, 25.7 per cent reported having vaped—a rise from 20.5 per cent in 2021. The increase is particularly marked among girls, Year 11 students, and non-smokers.

For instance, 8.6 per cent of girls now vape regularly compared to 5.1 per cent of boys, while Year 11 students report the highest rate of regular use at 15.9 per cent.

Chris Emmerson, Consultant in Public Health at Public Health Wales, highlighted the growing concern over youth nicotine dependency, stating, “As this new data illustrates, vaping among young people is rapidly on the rise in Wales, which is a similar picture to the rest of the UK. And, while vaping is considerably less harmful than smoking, it is far from risk free.”

According to Public Health Wales, vaping has become more prevalent than smoking among Welsh students, with just 5.5 per cent of Year 11 students now regularly smoking, a decline from 7.5 per cent in 2021.

Across all students in Years 7 to 11, regular smoking rates are down to 2.7 per cent, many of whom also vape. Public Health Wales acknowledges the role vaping can play in reducing smoking rates but warns that vaping is not without risks.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduced today, Tuesday November 5,  includes several provisions intended to restrict youth access to both vaping and smoking products.

One of the Bill’s key measures is a ban on the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 1 January 2009, effectively phasing out smoking for future generations.

The Bill also introduces new restrictions on vape marketing and packaging, aligning it more closely with tobacco products and imposing stricter enforcement on vape sales to minors.

Mr Emmerson welcomed these measures, especially the planned increase in the age for tobacco sales, describing the legislation as a “once in a generation opportunity to pass important, life-saving legislation.”

The UK-wide measures aim to address health concerns and protect young people from early nicotine addiction by regulating marketing tactics that make vaping appealing to youth.

Vaping Trends and Health Implications in Wales

The SHRN data indicates that vaping is growing fastest among students who do not smoke, which has raised concerns among health advocates.

The trend is particularly notable among girls, whose rates of regular vaping have surpassed boys. Across Wales, an average of 3,845 deaths annually are attributed to smoking, with 17,000 hospital admissions related to tobacco use, according to Public Health Wales.

Authorities hope that the new regulations will drive down these numbers by reducing nicotine dependency among younger populations.

The findings from SHRN, which surveyed 129,761 students across 201 Welsh schools, underscore the rising popularity of vaping among young people in Wales, even as smoking rates fall to all-time lows among secondary school students.

Support for Smokers and Vapers

Public Health Wales encourages anyone looking to quit smoking to seek help through its Help Me Quit service, which offers free, non-judgmental support and access to stop smoking medications. Further information is available at helpmequit.wales or by calling 0800 085 2219.

As the new Tobacco and Vapes Bill progresses, health officials are hopeful that it will curb the rise in vaping among young people and prevent a resurgence of nicotine dependency across Wales.